"Spiritual practice is usually perceived as individualistic and intrapsychic-as something we do alone. Traditionally, Eastern meditation practices have been mainly associated with a life of retreat in a monastic setting. Western culture, on the other hand, gave birth to the Romantic ideal: the view that the highest happiness comes through discovering a loving relationship with an ideal partner. Both these views are becoming obsolete as we evolve emotionally and spiritually."
"We have witnessed a steady influence of the East upon our spiritually hungry Western world. We are now beginning to experience a counterinfluence of our Western culture upon the Eastern view. As Eastern thought permeates our culture, it is adapted to the Western mind. As Jacob Needleman explains, "the leaders of the new religions themselves-the numerous gurus and spiritual teachers now in the West-are reformulating and adapting the traditional systems according to the language and atmosphere of modern psychology.""
Spiritual practice has often been viewed as an individual, intrapsychic pursuit linked to solitary meditation or monastic retreat, while Western culture emphasized finding highest fulfillment in an ideal partner. Those traditional perspectives are shifting as Eastern spirituality influences the West and Western psychological sensibilities reshape Eastern teachings. Western spiritual leaders and gurus are reformulating traditional systems using the language of modern psychology. A growing view holds that meaningful human relationships can function as vital paths for spiritual practice and growth, enabling individuals to move beyond personal desires and access a broader transpersonal dimension of shared human experience.
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